The Witch's Revenge Read Online Free PDF

“but where’s the doorbell?”
    â€œIs this it?” asked Morag, pointing to a large chain. Without waiting for an answer she pulled it, and somewhere far away a horn sounded.
    â€œWho is it?” a voice from the gate asked.
    They looked at each other.
    â€œI said, ‘Who is it?’ ” the gate asked again, this time impatiently.
    â€œEr … it’s Morag, with Shona, Bertie and Aldiss,” replied Morag uncertainly.
    â€œState your business.”
    â€œWe’re here to see Montgomery,” the girl said.
    There was a pause. “Stand forward one at a time so that I may scan you.”
    â€œScan us?”
repeated Morag.
    It was a thought that rattled around everyone’s head at the same time, and no one was keen to go first. They were even less enthusiastic when a robin decided to take matters into its own wings. It flew straight at the panel depicting fire. There was a
Zimm!
as it lit up and
Zap!
The little bird was fried midflight. The smell of burnt feathers filled the air.
    â€œInterloper!” spat the gate. “Now, step forward. I need to verify who you are.”
    Morag looked in horror at Shona, who had turned a sickly shade of purple (dragons turn purple when they’re feeling nauseated). Aldiss and Bertie were faring no better: the rat was standing close by, breathing deeply, and the dodo was staring, his beak open in horror.
    â€œYou first, Bertie,” said Aldiss, pushing him forward.
    â€œBut it doesn’t like birds,” replied the dodo, resisting. “Why don’t
you
go first? You’re the littlest.”
    â€œThat is exactly why I should go second. What if it can’t scan me? What if it frazzles me, too, like that poor little bird?” said the rat, his black eyes filling with tears.
    â€œAnd what about
this
poor little bird? Don’t you care about
me
? There aren’t many dodos left, you know …,” snorted Bertie, pointing at himself.
    â€œOh, for goodness’ sake, will you two be quiet?” interrupted Morag. “
I’ll
go first, okay? And I’ll be fine.”
I hope
, she thought as she moved toward the gate.
    â€œNo, Morag, you can’t!” said Shona, leaping in her way.
    â€œI can and I will. We need to see Montgomery and we need to see him now,” she said firmly. “Besides,” she added, “it’s freezing and it looks like it’s about to snow. If you want to stay here and turn into an icicle, that’s fine, but I’m going in.”
    As she said this, a flurry of snowflakes fell and swirled around them. The dragon, seeing Morag was right, nodded.
    â€œI’m ready,” Morag said, her stomach churning with fear.
    â€œCome closer,” the gate replied. “So I can see how you measure up.”
    Morag moved closer and was engulfed in a funnel of light filled with thousands of sparkling shapes. As she looked closely, she saw that these were tiny star-shaped elves. They were taking out little measuring tapes and holding them against her.
    â€œMorag MacTavish from Irvine, blue eyes, brown hairand a sharp mind,” said the gate. “You’re rubbish at telling jokes and your favorite food is macaroni cheese. You are the vanquisher of the warlock Devlish and savior of the Eye of Lornish. Your biggest fears are meeting Mephista again and being found by your guardians Jermy and Moira Stoker. You may pass through.”
    Astonished, Morag stepped out of the light and through the open gates. She waved to her friends from the other side. Aldiss went next.
    â€œCheese lover,” decided the gate. “Collector of antique miniature thimbles. Karaoke singer. Vintage train enthusiast.”
    Then Bertie.
    â€œPompous! Lover of television soap operas and gossip magazines. Only bird to have finished the Toughie Crossword in the
Marnoch Mor Herald.
”
    And finally Shona.
    â€œBad tempered but quite lovable.